The years seem to pass us by at an increasing rate these days! I don’t think I can remember a busier year for the club than 2011. I can report to you that our membership during the year saw 65 members leave (66 in 2010), and 60 new members join (69 in 2010). So we have seen a slight decrease in membership
over the year. However, we still have a very healthy intake and look forward to welcoming a number of new members in the very near future. There will always be an amount of turnover for a club such as Bushey, but this will always be a good thing for us, as it keeps renewing us and bringing fresh ideas into the club.
Our swimming membership and waiting list now looks like this...
We still see a female domination, particularly at the top end, but there are a good number of boys coming through from our waiting list. With our new pool-time at St. Margaret’s just coming on line, we will have a slightly increased capacity within the club. We are looking to keep our waiting list down to a minimum this year, to give all swimmers the opportunity to join and enjoy their swimming with us. Remember to tell your friends about us and what we do – you never know where the next Liam Tancock or Becky Adlington might come from!
I am very pleased that following our financial re-organisation in 2010, we were in a position where our annual fees only required a marginal increase for 2012, and the termly swim fees have not gone up at all. This really does represent exceptional value. Please could I remind all parents that fees really do need to be paid on time in order for us to continue to operate. As a guide, there were still in excess of £1,000 in fees for 2011 outstanding by 10
th January. I try to remind everybody of the arrangements by letter towards the end of the year – don’t put it off, do it straight away when you receive the letter!I would very much like to thank the Committee for their supreme efforts over the year. In particular, could I thank Judith Charman for her endless efforts in keeping the ship afloat, and making sure that everything is balanced. I know it is a difficult job keeping track of all the money coming in and going out. I would also like to thank Jane Willis, our chair, for her unwavering support and enthusiasm throughout the year. She really does keep us all fired up and driving the club forward.
As I reported last year, I have now completed six years in the role of membership secretary. My post is up for re-election, and I am taking the opportunity to step down from this position. I believe that the best interests of the club are served by rotating the responsibilities, and I feel that the time is right for a fresh impetus to be added to the membership management. At the AGM, a new membership secretary will be elected, taking over from me. I would like to wish them good luck with the position – it is like no other in the club – you know everybody’s name, but the trick is to associate it with the right face!
Could I thank everybody who has supported me through my tenure as membership secretary. It has been tremendously enjoyable to be at the heart of the club. I’m not going anywhere though, both my girls still swim at Bushey, and I’m sure I’ll pop up again in another role (probably sooner than I expect).
It just remains for me to welcome you all back to the club for 2012. It will be another fantastically busy year, full of (I’m sure) yet more club records being broken.
Happy swimming.
Jon Wood
Membership Secretary